#BookReview Wedding Bells for Woolworths by Elaine Everest @ElaineEverest @PGCBooks @panmacmillan #Woolworths Title: Wedding Bells for Woolworths

Author: Elaine Everest

Series: Woolworths #5

Published by: Pan Macmillan on Jun. 22, 2020

Genres: Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Publishers Group Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

Wedding Bells for Woolworths is the latest installment in Elaine Everest”s much-loved series, following A Gift from Woolworths.

July 1947. Britain is still gripped by rationing, even as the excitement of Princess Elizabeth”s engagement sweeps the nation. In the Woolworths” canteen, Freda is still dreaming of meeting her own Prince Charming. So far she”s been unlucky in love. When she has an accident on her motorbike, knocking a cyclist off his bicycle, it seems bad luck is still following her around. Anthony is not only a fellow Woolworths employee but has been an Olympic hopeful. Will his broken leg heal in time for him to compete? Can he ever forgive Freda?

Sarah”s idyllic family life is shattered when her seven-year-old daughter, Georgina, contracts polio and her time is spent at the hospital willing her child to recover. Freda steps in to help Sarah”s husband care for the home and their younger child, Buster.

The friends must rally round to face some of the toughest challenges of their lives together. And although they experience loss, hardship and shocks along the way, love is on the horizon for the Woolworths girls…


Review:

Quaint, sentimental, and cosy!

Wedding Bells for Woolworths is a sentimental, uplifting tale that takes us back to the small town of Crayford, England post-WWII and into the lives of all the characters we’ve come to know and love over the previous four novels as they once again tackle sticky situations, celebrate special moments, pull together to handle mayhem makers with sinister intent, welcome new arrivals, and say goodbye to a hero.

The writing is sweet and tender. The characters are multilayered, kind, and helpful. And the plot is a delightful mix of life, loss, love, family, heartbreak, gossip, community, and friendship.

Overall, Wedding Bells for Woolworths is a heartwarming, charming, nostalgic addition to the Woolworths series by Everest that does a wonderful job of reminding us of the importance and impact of one of the most iconic mass-market retailers of the twentieth century.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Elaine Everest

Elaine was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her Sunday Times bestselling historical sagas are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty-three years and has written widely for women's magazines and national newspapers, with short stories, serials and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four-legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio including her Kent based novels, canine subjects, and living with a husband under her feet! She was BBC Radio Kent’s short story writer of the year, a runner up for The Harry Bowling Prize, and winner of Myrmidon Books novel writing competition.

When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place, her successful creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. She hopes one day soon to have another old English Sheepdog and still keeps in touch with many of her dear friends from her days in the show ring.

Elaine lives in Swanley, Kent with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Website.